“I understand,” answered Tad bravely; and without a quaver in his voice.

“Mind you, I don’t think for a minute that it will happen.  I can handle these fellows if I get the lay of the land.  Keep close enough to hear me.”

“That’s not so easy.”

“No; but you’ll know.  When I stop you do the same.”

CHAPTER XIX

 Outwitting the redskins

Kris Kringle moved away without another word.  His abrupt departure was the signal for the Pony Rider boy to start, which he did instantly.

In a few minutes Tad was skulking along the top of the mountain, when he ran into the guide again.

Just then the report of a rifle sounded down below them.

“Are they shooting at us?” whispered Tad.

“No; the boys have lighted the fire in the cave.  Our friends down below took a pot shot at the blaze.  Hope they didn’t hit anybody.”

“Chunky would be the only one to get in the way, and I imagine the others would hold him back.”

“Come this way; we’ll go down by a different trail.  The redskins are watching the fire in the cave, but they may be keeping an eye on the trail at the same time.”

Silently the man and the boy took their way along the rough, uneven path, slowly working down into the valley.  They soon reached this, for the range was low there.

Reaching the foothills, the two scouts once more fell into single file, Tad Butler to the rear.  He knew that the guide’s rifle ahead of him was ready for instant use, and at any second now Tad expected to see the flash of a gun.

The lad was not afraid, but he was all a-quiver with excitement.  This stalking an enemy in the dark, not knowing at what minute that enemy might make the attack, was not the same as a stand-up fight in broad daylight.  Tad wondered why the guide had not permitted the rest of the party to escape while they had the opportunity.  He did not know that Kris Kringle fully expected an ambush, nor that two would stand a better chance to get through and out-wit the savages than would half a dozen of them.  The pair had approached nearly to the camp, for which the guide was heading, when suddenly a hand was laid on the boy’s arm in a firm grip.  Tad knew the guide had seen or heard something.

“What is it?”

“There!”

In the faint light of the camp-fire the lad, gazing where Kris Kringle had pointed, was astonished to see a figure seated at their table.  From his motions it was evident that the intruder was stowing away the stolen fool at a great rate.

“Is that one of them?”

“Yes.”

“He’ll have indigestion, the way he’s eating.  Hope he doesn’t swallow the dishes, too.”

“I’m going to find the other one.  You crawl as close to the camp as you can with safety.  If you hear a disturbance, dive for the tents the instant that fellow starts.  He’ll move if he hears any noise.  Get a gun and hurry to me, but be quiet about it.”